Egypt says Israeli Rafah operation would carry 'grave humanitarian risks'

Egypt has warned Israel against launching a military operation in Rafah, saying that it would carry "grave humanitarian risks".

"Egypt warns of the dangers of a possible Israeli military operation in the Palestinian Rafah region, south of the Gaza Strip, as this escalatory action entails grave humanitarian risks that threaten more than a million Palestinians residing in that region," the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Egypt calls on Israel to exercise the utmost restraint, avoid further escalation at this extremely sensitive time in the process of ceasefire negotiations, and spare the blood of Palestinian civilians who have been exposed to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip."

The ministry said that it was continue to be in contact with "all parties in order to prevent the situation from getting worse or getting out of control".